February 25, 2011

Meade and I confront them, and we're told we're the first people who've had a problem with it. I try to explain how that attempted defense of the behavior is only going to make it look worse. It means that of all these crowds of people in the Capitol, no one else has noticed or cared enough to say anything.

AND: Here's a video made by Democracy Now! that features the young woman Meade talks to in the end of our video.

It was awfully nice of "Meade" (what is it with people trying to market themselves with one-name trademarks? Madonna, Beyonce, Althouse, Meade, it just goes on and on...please stop!) telling them that they had to move their stuff since he is the maintenance engineer at the Capitol. The stuck some shit on the blank backside of a memorial. I'm sure they meant no disrespect at all, despite what "Meade" says. You could see the actual memorial just fine. I'm sure most veterans with a brain would be happy to see folks exercising the rights they fought for rather than sitting at home watching American Idol.

Nice try. I'm sure everyone there has tried to remain as peaceful as possible but the place has been packed. Chill out.

I'm also glad Ann has a bodyguard, all those crazy out-of-state union thugs can't control themselves.

Hey, it's become a party, a big social event happening that for some of them will become the biggest thing in their lives. In the year 2065 they will be boring the stuffing out of their grandkids over the great moment in Madison, or it would have been a great moment if someone had listened because now its all corporate and though it's ok that we became a part of Canada it really was better in some ways when we were called the United States because the Canada deal looked better before the glaciers expanded and the new ice age began and that's the fault of the corporations too.

Reagan, you inaptly monikered pissant, please don't guess what Veterans think. We're largely disgusted by the selfishness and disregard for American ideals displayed by the Swastika-wielding, apocolypse-proclaiming shitbags up in Madison.As for you, nobody gives a shit.

I've been reading your blog for several years and I finally feel compelled to comment. You are doing a great job. Thank you for balanced, well thought out and respectful reporting of what is occurring. And also thanks to all your commenters. They are a quality crowd and provide an amusing backdrop to your posts.

"I'm sure they meant no disrespect at all, despite what "Meade" says."--Seriously? These are Democrats. They have zero respect for war veterans. They loathe the military, just like their hero BJ Clinton does. Remember how you and your hero Moulitsas cheered when those Blackwater contractors were burned and strung up in Faluja a few years back? Remember how happy that made you? Yeah, those guys were military veterans. I know, embarrassing for you. Now get on back to DKos or PufHo before your feelings get hurt, libtard. (Geez, no wonder you people are losing so badly if it's this easy to pwn you).

I'll be back tomorrow to make sure they followed through on Harriet's assurance that they will move their material away from the memorial. I've also emailed my Assembly representative, Brett Hulsey, 77th District assemblyman, and asked him to personally see to it that none of the memorials and monuments in the Capitol building are disrespected.

I think they were embarrassed to be caught, not embarrassed to be jerks. I think the whole point of the rotunda occupation was to take it over and paper over civilization with their crap...er, disapproval, just like young, unthinking radicals in times past--another exercise in reactionary political shtick.

I feel like I must sound like "get off my lawn" to them, but they should get the hell out of there and salvage what dignity they have left.

shiloh and Reagan and these idiots in your video really are who the Democrat Party has become. Thank you Wisconsin Democrats for making such a big show that for once, people will see who you really are. This can not end well for your side. Ha

I think they shouldn't have taped that shit on the back of the memorial, but I disagree with the claim/faux outrage that they intended to disrespect veterans at all. The agreed to move it away, so no big deal. Considering how gross it must be down there, I'm surprised how peaceful and non-problematic the sit-in has been.

You probably don't care, but my father was a Korea vet and my bro is a Marine who has served in artillery units in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He also is very pro-union and worked as a union mason for 5 years. I've never been in a union. for what it is worth.

This is vile. I've never seen such self-absorption. "We had to put it somewhere?" What insufferable children; just children playing protest, and planning for meaningful careers as unaccountable community organizers.

A little too late for mea culpas, 'Reagan'. You're a left loving loser whose words I trust not at all. Though you're correct about one thing. I don't care about those around you who did something they believed in as it is obvious you are the black swan in that group.

I disagree with the claim/faux outrage that they intended to disrespect veterans at all.

I tend to agree. They have no idea what veterans are or what they might have done. Ask a college freshman about the wars we have fought. Who was on what side ? What decade was the Civil War fought ? Telling them why it is offensive to tape crap on the veterans memorial might be a teachable moment, if of course they were teachable.

I think you would have gotten a better response if you didn't initially approach the protestors who defaced the memorial in such a demanding and aggressive way.

I understand that you feel strongly about it. But especially at beginning, Meade comes off as a prick, an aristocratic elite in his own mind. I think the protestors you spoke to are reacting defensively to your tone more than to your reasoning.

"I think you would have gotten a better response if you didn't initially approach the protestors who defaced the memorial in such a demanding and aggressive way.

I understand that you feel strongly about it. But especially at beginning, Meade comes off as a prick, an aristocratic elite in his own mind. I think the protestors you spoke to are reacting defensively to your tone more than to your reasoning."

That's right...it's all about their precious feelings. Can't we all just get along?

Clueless and couldn't care less. The worst thing that can happen to those clowns is what will happen - they will become the face of the slobocracy trying to impose itself on this country.

FWIW, Wisconsin has a hallowed military heritage. The eagle in the patch of the 101st Airborne is Old Abe, mascot of the Iron Brigade, which fought in the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. The 101 began in WWI as a reserve infantry division.

The 32nd "Red Arrow" Infantry Division was manned by men from Wisconsin and fought in New Guinea and the Philippines in WWII; it was the first US division to see action in New Guinea in November 1942.

They deserve better from their own people.

Reagan said...

I'm also glad Ann has a bodyguard, all those crazy out-of-state union thugs can't control themselves.

You probably don't care, but my father was a Korea vet and my bro is a Marine who has served in artillery units in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He also is very pro-union and worked as a union mason for 5 years. I've never been in a union. for what it is worth.

Public or private unions? That's the question. These guys are protesting to steal OUR money. Is your "bro" in favor of that?

As a veteran, sometimes I just think that people don't know how wonderful we have it in this country and most of the stuff we fight over is beyond petty and selfish. I don't think most of it comes from being malicious but, rather, from being clueless.

Thanks for your persistence Althouse and Meade. That there are commenters here trying to defend the indefensible is astonishing. Even Harriet the enthusiastic UWM organizer realized her gang had blundered.

FWIW edutcher the line bisected by the red arrow in the 32nd Div patch is derived from the prowess of the Div in WW I where it was said it "pierced the lines of the Boche like an arrow." Hence the inclusion of the red line representing the enemy line being pierced..

Seriously. The superficial posturing of the self absorbed, indulged, forever juvenile adult children ....trampling upon the lives of those who gave of themselves at great sacrifice. Spiting on the graves of brave men and women. The stupid Vietnam protesters who were cravenly safe at home and who were clueless about the world.

Sometimes I wonder...was it…is it really worth the sacrifice. Why did they die to save these worthless slime balls. Maybe we should just stand aside,….protect ourselves and our families…. and LET these slugs just die.

I swear...it is the 1970’s reincarnated. Carter, Oil Embargo, Inflation, Stupid Hippies. I hated the 70’s then, (except for some of the music which was pretty good) even when I was in the midst of it… I don’t want to see it happen all over again.

The nice thing about being a libertarian is that lefties can't pull that whole "hah! let's see you criticize COPS AND FIREFIGHTERS, Mr. Conservative" schtick on you when this sort of union crap comes up.

The vast majority of the military men and women who died in service to this country did so while public sector unions were (a) illegal and (b) frowned upon by the leadership of both political parties.

It is silly to think most of them would have given the thumbs-up to a bunch of overpaid state workers marching for a bigger suck at the government tit. That was how communist countries worked -- not America.

I'm not going to watch anymore. I've got a nice buzz going and I don't want to ruin it.

But I'm struck by how casually these two punks revert to making excuses for their actions.

If I made such an honest mistake and was clueless as to its implications, my face would have fallen with shame as soon as someone explained to me what I had done. I wouldn't be arguing about it or trying to justify it, I'd be moving my shit off the memorial.

Typical Leftist attitude – no Wellstone Memorial moment – yet... I like the Lem’s comment on Underdogma . Given the bizarre, child-like behavior of the protesters, I fear when the whole deal comes crashing down around their feet they are going to take it badly and do bad things.

What the hell is wrong with the teachers? None of them thought piling crap between the flags and using the back of the war memorial as a bulletin board/desk was inappropriate?

I don't buy that Harriet is "just a student", her narrative skills are too polished, and she knows how to work an eye line...of course she might be a communication major, but I'd guess that this is not her first time at the community organizing rodeo.

Watch her body language with Meade, how she reads him, she's trying to handle Meade.

If the national press were to cover this as well as Ann has, I don't think the unions would dare show their faces anywhere. And they have the gall to talk about "incivility" on the part of the right. They talk about worker's rights, but show no respect for anyone else's.

Maybe it's because I come from NYC where even little girls making their first communion do it in an obnoxious way, but I just can't get my hate on for these kids. They sounded apologetic and promised to do the right thing. I don't think there was any real intent at disrespect. They are heedless and self dramatizing but, as the crimes of youth go, it's nothing to make the blood boil. You were in the right to call them out, but they did not respond in an inappropriate or defiant way.....In the other tape, I got as far as the nurse proclaiming that "genocide" was being inflicted on the middle class. That annoyed me a lot more.

Quite clearly it was just a personal vendetta you had with the person who filmed that footage.

Althouse and her commenters never gave a shit before about animal abuse. I used to be trolled in these comment sections for even mentioning a care about an animal.

For example, they were perfectly okay with Sarah Palin's aerial wolf hunts in Alaska. Talk about obscene disrespect of animals!

Yeah, in case anyone didn't understand that, that was just another one of Althouse's grudges against someone who had previously committed some offense against her.

She didn't do a post about Peta's response to the camel incident because she actually didn't give a shit. All that mattered was feeding Instapundit something to make people believe that Pata doesn't really care about animals.

Now, as for these protests in Wisconsin, we have seen that Althosue and her ultra-right-wing husband have been looking hard for any pictures and video they can take that they can feed to right-wing blogs such as Gateway Pundit. They seem to spend their entire days looking for shit to smear people over at these protests, even going so far as to trail salt trucks to see if they can get them in trouble for honking their horns to the protestors.

Althouse was so obsessed with this agenda that she photographed some signs with sticks and some flags with sticks laying outside the capitol building, trying to paint it as some huge disrespect. Actually it was because the authorities told people they couldn't bring anything with a stick attached into the building.

In this latest video, Meade musters up all the fake outrage he can, and Althouse rants and raves and starts shaking, over some supposed massive disrespect to a memorial.

Don't believe it, people. It's just like how she was trying to get the salt truck drivers fired. Just like how she acted like she wanted a federal investigation into the camel incident.

It's bullshit.

Meade and Althosue are simply two tea-baggers trying to make mountains out of molehills so Gateway Pundit and Instapundit link to them.

Althouse has already shown she will defend birthers and those who support torture by the U.S. government just to stay in the good graces of ultra-right propaganda blogs she makes money from. She's not in a position to lecture anyone else.

Libtard: Althouse was so obsessed with this agenda that she photographed some signs with sticks and some flags with sticks laying outside the capitol building, trying to paint it as some huge disrespect. Actually it was because the authorities told people they couldn't bring anything with a stick attached into the building.

Because when the authorities tell you not to bring sticks inside, the only alternative is to trash the capital grounds.

Thanks to the poster above who cited the history of the Wisconsin Red Arrow Brigade, the 32nd Infantry. My son currently serves among that fine group of soldiers, and is awaiting his third deployment. He had a great education from the schools he attended in Wisconsin. All of them private church-run institutions.

I myself am a former teacher from the Wisconsin Public Schools, who left back in the '90s when the Union had a case of the vapors because they were asked to start paying prescription co-pays for the very first time. Pay $5 for their own medications? How beastly! How abusive!

There is a rally in my town to recall State Senator Bob Wirch today. I plan to be there with bells on.

It isn't intentional disrespect. That's the most disturbing element of all. It's one thing to know how something as sacred as a memorial to American war dead is expected to be treated and to then disregard that. But no be completely unaware of something so basic? Something so central to the exercise of free speech? Sad. These particular protesters a just the useful mush brained foot soldiers of greedy union bosses and Democrat pols. They know as much about war memorials as they do about the impact of public sector unions.

I must say, it is fascinating (for some reason) to read this blog. A liberal actually running face first into the irrational insanity of liberalism! This week alone...The NYT is an unreliable source for news, Liberal jurists completely warp their reasoning to support their cause and now...liberals have absolutely NO respect for the Military and monuments honoring them!What next???

The fact that the usual suspects here are unable to see the gaping chasm of a distinction between public sector unions and private sector unions is indicative of the modern liberal's cluelessness.

This incident is a wonderful visual aid for this phenomenon.

The sad thing is that pensions for those veterans who devoted 20 or more years of their life - while working 5 times as hard, being away from their families for totals of years, facing violent dangers, risks, and stresses - don't really compare to those of public sector employees.

It ought to be clear by now that Capitol Police and the people who run the buildings are siding with the protestors. Why have they been allowed to sleep in the Capitol for over a week now? Why have they been able to tape signs and deface public property?

As I pointed out several days ago when the Tea Party had their rally on April 15, 2010 they weren't allowed to bring signs into the Capitol. In fact the police only allowed a representative few to enter the building; the rest of the Tea Party had to remain outside.

The clueless drum beating and chanting to create an "energy" around them is a good imitation of the boys in the book/movie Lord of the Flies. Ann and Meade are like the adult authorities showing up and bringing civilization's point of view back with them.

You know, there's that Police Officer monument down at the corner of the square, built just perfectly for sitting on, with signs all around it saying Don't sit here, and I always have thought if you don't want people to sit on your monument, then design it so people don't sit on it.

I'm not sure I'd confront someone about this Outrage! I'm not watching the video here in the Coffee Shop, but if you're just explaining that you find what they're doing offensive or foolish, well, that's what I might do. But you can't teach someone to have respect in a minute.

@pogo if you're reading this thread....We talked about this briefly in the thread on the VP of Diversity and Climate Change. My son got his acceptance letter to Madison yesterday; I wasn't expecting to hear from them until March. I'd still prefer he'd go to Hillsdale though.

Thanks Meade and Ann for doing what is right. I find it rather telling the lack of reponsibility on all of those you spoke with including the Harriet babe, who gave Meade the "yea, yea, yea..." blow off answer.

She is the savvy leader, the others are the useful idiots. Trying to justify what they did or act as if they just showed up and they didn't realize, is shameful.

This is why they will lose in the end. For them the amazing Drum circle is more important, than proper respect for those who have given their lives in defense of this great nation of ours. A nation where we can have spirited debate and unfettered protest.

These 'yutes' are the result of affluenza, the offspring of uncaring or unknowing parents who instead of teaching and educating their kids as to proper decorum and respect, instead gave them everything they wanted. Now they feel entitled.

Their desecration of the memorial is like having a beer and brat bonfire on a veteran's grave.

The action feeds the narrative, whether what this group did was intentional or not.

Were they happy about Ian Murphy punking Walker with the faked Koch phone call? Probably, but you have to admit at the very least, the call was done by someone who ideologically is on their side.

Was it done by the same Ian Murphy who wrote an article entitled "Fuck the Troops", where he all but said the U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq deserved what they got? Why, yes it was.

So Murphy wasn't one of those at the statehouse, and you can't say what he thinks about the troops is what they think about the troops. But treating the memorial that way is really bad public relations, especially when one of your highest-profile supporters produces stuff like that which reinforces the idea that the left hates the military.

@Pago; one never really knows... I didn't expect my kid to get in to Madison but it seems that he has some things working in his favor. Both my wife and I migrated here as young adults so this is new for us.

Has your son looked at Michigan? I went to b-school there and its always been the highest ranked b-school in the Big Ten.

Leftists don't give a shit about service to the USA. They only give a shit about Marxist/socialist causes. This isn't in dispute; leftists have always trumpeted their contempt for the US military, despite their "support the troops, stop the war" propaganda bullshit.

They are commies for all intents and purposes; they say the same shit the commies say.

All. The. Time.

You leftist assholes can go fuck yourselves. Shiloh and garage in particular.

Public Employee unions are money laundering tax dollars into campaign donations for Democrats. Thats the issue here. Thats why the commies are losing their shit.

You cannot take an oath to protect and serve the people and then support the union over the peoples elected representatives. That's called "Oath Breaking".

You can take your oath-breaking, union goon cops and firemen with you.

First of all, I can't wait to see the Part II of this today and see if the Memorial is cleaned up.

Secondly, after reading the comments, I'm trying to remember where I learned my respect for the fallen. Most likely it came from my parents, not something taught in school.

It is something in my core, though. I'm with Meade and Althouse. This disrespect is visceral for me. I ride with the Patriot Guard Riders and when we are escorting a young man or woman who was killed in action in Afghanistan, it boils my blood when people disrespect the funeral procession.

Of course, being from small town Georgia that generally doesn't happen. Most of the time cars are stopped on the side of the road and people are out of their cars with their hand over their heart.

My bf and I have a goal of visiting all the state Capitol buildings. We went to four this past year and the war memorials are something we both take the time to read and to respect.

As a liberal who was educated conservatively in the South, I was taught in school (Dad of course served 1945-1950, but did not make a big deal about it) to respect the flag and probably war memorials, but my memory of that is not as strong as how to treat a flag. I'd like to add that it is not just soldiers who protect our right to free speech. Even lawyers do that. And they never get the respect and even recognition that is their due. Everyday people including lawyers go out and re-demarcate the lines, and for them just as for soldiers I am thankful. I am especially thankful because they can explain its importance to me.

Considering that your and Meade's 8 minute and 51 second video pointing out out that they should move their literature station, and kept getting hemming and hawing and talking about needing to find someone in authority to, I guess okay moving it, I got a big chuckle out of Rowan's comment at the 7:48 mark in the DN video about how this protest event has made people "really feel empowered, individually, to accomplish things, to do things. They see something not being done and they do it."

1) AA, you are an instigator. No doubt about it, you are certainly not neutral. Oh, and Meade seems like quite the douche. Does he even have a job?!

2) I'm against eliminating the collective bargaining rights, but this is getting absurd. From the billions of signs to the assembly Democrats screaming "Shame" and acting like a bunch of children...I've had enough. The senators need to come back and just get this over with.

Yes, a statement has been made, we get it, but enough is enough. The controversial ID Bill was passed, which probably could've been stopped had the Democrats been here. Just get this crap over with, please.

I think the real douches are the shit-for-brains students, as well as the parents and teachers who failed to instill the tiniest bit of respect into them. Sniveling, snot-nosed and stupid is no way to go through life.

Those young liberals are even more dangerous and ignorant than the Governor who was thinking about sending disruptive agents into the crowd and risking public safety. I look forward to the next expose of the disrespectful graffiti posted in the public johns.

I'm sure you'll all be pleased to know that tonight's the last night the protesters can be in the Capitol--the police are kicking them out tomorrow. Hopefully (And I'm *really* hoping), things can finally return to normal. This Democrat is beyond weary of what's transpired in this state.

I wonder if we could find out just how many of these 'protesters' are tax paying citizens of Wisconsin.

I'm guessing not that many.

Most are either idiot students who don't work, don't understand work or have any plans to work in the State of Wisconsin. They are only protesting because it is super cool and makes them feel like their useless pampered lives have some sort of higher purpose. It is the idiot Vietnam protesters all over again.

Yeah, R-V, Gov. Walker is the worstest, meanest meanie in the whole wide world!!!Let's ignore the fact that you're referencing a prank call and misrepresenting what Walker said and concentrate on the fact that importing troublemakers would've been redundant. The Libs made asses of themselves without any help. From the charlatans passing out fake Doctor's excuses to the screaming maniacs waving Hitler signs, they showed the nation what Public Employee Unions are all about.

This is clearly something these kids needed to learn, so thanks for telling them. I don't think they intended disrespect, but they are just kids who at that age have not yet formed respect for such things.

Now, what will they take away from this long term? When embarrassed like this some people get it and grow, and some will resent it and become permanently blind. We may have just watched the birth of the next Alinsky mind, but it needed to be done. Thanks guys.

Only because his original burial site -- his house -- was torn down and the body moved.

GMay -- they're using Painters' Tape, so you have it exactly backwards. They DID think about the consequences of adhesive on the beautiful walls of the Capitol, and used something with a small impact. Imagine if they'd used Duck Tape!

I don't know anyone, left, right, or center, in Madison who does not consider the Wisconsin Capitol the most beautiful one in the Nation. It's truly breathtaking and a great sense of understandable pride. No matter who comes to visit you in Madison, you take them up there so they can, for example, look straight up in the middle at the beautiful dome.

Between Desert Storm and the current campaigns I have lost three friends; men I served with. Thank God they all come from states where if there is a memorial for the heroic and honored dead it won't be defiled by a bunch of union thugs and their neo-hippie groupies.

I seriously do not believe that the protestors and their supporters understand how close they are to losing much of their moderate support.

You know, I'd love to say that the public crapping over the war memorial can be simply chalked up to the indescretion of youth. Young people do dumb things, and then they grow up. It's just part of being young.

But then, you never see Young Americans for Freedom crapping on war memorials. Or Young Republicans. Or Eagle Forum Collegians. Or Tea Party Students.

It's always, always, always libtards.

And it's not like they're even that young. Ask professor "Million Mogadishus."

This is clearly something these kids needed to learn, so thanks for telling them. I don't think they intended disrespect, but they are just kids who at that age have not yet formed respect for such things.

You aren't serious? My children knew not to disrespect soldiers, the flag, their elders, and sacred spaces when they hadn't yet entered the first grade.

For folks who supposedly are there in support of education, how much slack should one allow them in the face of this monumental ignorance of common decency?

I seriously do not believe that the protestors and their supporters understand how close they are to losing much of their moderate support.

No they do not understand.

They live in a bubble. Surrounded by people exactly like themselves who all believe the same things, say the same things, wear the same things, drive the same cars, drink the same kool-aid.

When you meet them, they automatically assume that you TOO must also believe what they believe. When they find out that you do not, they are shocked and angry.

They cannot handle a challenge to their world view and react in childish or agressive ways. Instead of trying to understand any other thoughts or views, instead of learning....they shut down.

Their assumption is that, because they only know people like themselves, that they are in the majority. They think that there are no others who have valid points of view and if they do recognize that there might be others, they deem the others stupid.

Jim said: "Oh, and Meade seems like quite the douche. Does he even have a job?!"

I'm laughing. Should we be surprised that Jim also has no comprehension of disrespect toward a veterans' memorial?

Don't invite Jim to your house for dinner. He'll spit on the carpets, paw through your bathroom's medicine cabinet, insult your character and cooking, then belch and leave, sideswiping your car as he departs the driveway.

Madman said: "GMay -- they're using Painters' Tape, so you have it exactly backwards. They DID think about the consequences of adhesive on the beautiful walls of the Capitol, and used something with a small impact."

Oh sweet, so does that mean I can head on down to the Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln memorials and tape up whatever propaganda I please, or is that just a Wisconsin thing?

Interesting that you admit it makes a small impact. Who is it that gets to determine what is an acceptable impact on public memorials?

I'm thinking it's not me who has things "backwards" here.

"I don't know anyone, left, right, or center, in Madison who does not consider the Wisconsin Capitol the most beautiful one in the Nation. It's truly breathtaking and a great sense of understandable pride."

Yeah, those people sleeping under the beautiful dome and taping up signs all over the place are really classing the place up. It seems you folks up there in Wisconsin have a strange way of showing pride.

Barbara, you obviously have some serious personal issues that you clearly need to work on. Nowhere have I defended the rights of the protesters; in fact, I've made it pretty clear that while I'm not for the bill, I am against the Democrats hiding out of state and delaying it getting passed, which is inevitable.

You, on the other hand, make incredibly sick assumptions that prove that you've clearly got the "logic" and "intelligence" portions of your brain missing. Here's one for you: Don't invite Barbara to your home for dinner. She'll knock everything over, run around drooling like a rabid dog, and will scream like a banshee for no good reason.

1971 to 1999 United States Army...Grenda, Panama, Somilia, Bosnia, DS 1 and a few other piss pots...101st Abn Div (AASLT)1960s...Vietnam....Cousins1938 to 1945..WWII...Dad and Uncles1906 to 1926..WWI, Pancho Villa Expedition..Grandfather...Civil War...Great Great Grandfathers and brothers...Bull Run I to AppomattoxGreat Great Great Great GrandFather...RW..Valley Forge..

You know what's ugly? The disrespect and ignorance displayed by the UW students and their defenders. Somehow I've managed to vigorously exercise free speech my whole life and never once had to deface a Memorial to do it. Not so with those ignorant ingrates wallowing in garbage inside your precious Capitol.

This video is a nice illustration of some of the useful idiots of this generation. Both in the video and in some of these comments here. You'll never be cool enough in the eyes of the people who's opinion you're desperately trying to sway, (or is that not your goal?) to get away with this in their eyes.

Reasonable people know that this is NOT OK. It's as wrong for the left to behave this way as it is for the right when they act dismissive of the other sides sacred touchstones. Try growing up a little..

When I was a pool manager, I had two rules for myself: 1) No one would drown in my pool.and2) No one would be conceived in my hottub.(You'd be amazed how many ADULTS -- not the teens -- got frisky in the hot water, right there in public sight.)

Free Speech IS ugly sometimes. Fine. I actually think that the best part of it myself.

But what is the point of the demonstration exactly? Is it to intimidate the elected officials? Because that's clearly not working. Is it to sway that segment of the electorate that actually votes to your cause? Cause you're losing that one too.

Have you even glanced at the latest Rasmussen pools lately? If this were a focal issue in the run-up to an election cycle, the left wouldn't be able to win a dogcatcher runoff.

In the end this seems to be a chance for this generation to emulate the mythology of the things that occurred in the 60's and 70's. It makes no difference if the cause is jut (or even makes sense) it's the struggle against the "Man"! Truth to power! Our moment as someone mentioned earlier.

Did anyone notice that in the second video at 5:09 the young woman talking to the Democracy Now! interviewer is IN FRONT of the War Memorial.....COVERED in the same paper as the first video? What did she say about the war memorial in the first video?

I love how this post and almost every comment can be summarized by "Kids these days..."

Veterans may deserve respect, but they do not need to be acknowledged every single moment of every single day no matter what else happens to be going on. I know it's amazing to old people such as yourselves, but sticking a sign to a memorial might actually NOT be a deliberate and hateful signal that the person doing it actively hates the veterans and wishes america had lost the war. the veterans memorial is NOT the same as the veterans. The memorial, in and of itself, is NOT important beyond the message it conveys.

Whether or not you agree with the bill, you have to realize that is extremely important to the people who it affects, and it is extremely important NOW. The veterans will still be there tomorrow.

Finally, and to the people saying the veterans would not be in support of this protest I have to say, who cares? The opinions of men 70 years ago, no matter how brave, should not be set in stone as a guideline for america.

I have not. He's our Senator (26th district) and I have emailed him some of my thoughts. Have not yet received a reply.

He's 83 years-old, one year younger than my own dear mother, and for that reason alone I hate to think of him being on the run, hiding out, evading state troopers. He needs to be sleeping in his own bed at night.

For anyone else interested--tonight is the LAST night protesters are allowed to sleep at the capitol (finally). Like I said before--I may be against the bill, but this has dragged on far too long. I'm guessing that, starting next week, we'll finally start to see the beginning of the end, including the senators returning.

AllenSThey're expecting a total of 100k people today. We'll see, but I hear it's filling up already. More surprising is the numbers around the country out protesting in support of Wisconsin. It seems to be spreading.

I know it's amazing to old people such as yourselves, but sticking a sign to a memorial might actually NOT be a deliberate and hateful signal that the person doing it actively hates the veterans and wishes america had lost the war.

No, it just means they're thoughtless children who don't deserve to be taken seriously.

Whether or not you agree with the bill, you have to realize that is extremely important to the people who it affects, and it is extremely important NOW. The veterans will still be there tomorrow.

You should say this sort of thing to as many people as possible. Please.

Finally, and to the people saying the veterans would not be in support of this protest I have to say, who cares?

I've been a self-employed entrepreneur since 1983. At this point, I wouldn't know the first thing about getting "a job." Plus, at my age and with the economy struggling, it just wouldn't feel right for me to take a job from a young person trying to get himself established.

hat whiffed: "Veterans may deserve respect, but they do not need to be acknowledged every single moment of every single day no matter what else happens to be going on."

And who was saying this was the case? Oh that's right - nobody.

"I know it's amazing to old people such as yourselves, but sticking a sign to a memorial might actually NOT be a deliberate and hateful signal that the person doing it actively hates the veterans and wishes america had lost the war."

I know it's amazing to young people such as you, but the point was about defacing and disrespect, intentional or unintentional. Like most young people, these kids were clearly unaware of anything happening outside their little self-absorbed bubble.

But it basically disproves your thesis about how much pride Wisonsin lefties take in their capitol.

I don't think so.

My one-sentence comment above was too brief. Free speech can look ugly, but it's a beautiful concept. You can look at it and see the signs and clutter, or you can look at it and see expression against a Government's, and the fact that such a thing can happen peacefully is a thing of beauty.

As far as the people in the Capitol being from out of state, I don't think so, and the Truth-o-Meter says that statement is false as well.

As a veteran who's repeatedly died for my country, I'm horrified that that people are taping crap on the backs of pedestals in a state house lobby. I gave my life so middle managers have the freedom to kick my kids and grandkids to the curb for contracting asthma, not this shit.

These behaviors all started when we welcomed change into the political process via the 2008 Presidential election cycle. No doubt President Bush should have executed the war on terrorism in a military manner versus the political manner in which it ended up becoming a national nightmare akin to Viet Nam. That being said, comparing the behavior of the losing side 2008-2010 to the current losers in the political debate, well suddenly I understand why Sean Hannity and Anne Coulter are so popular (along with Keith Olbermann on the other side of the fence). Conservatives appear to have quietly vented out of frustration that was only compounded by Mr Obama's (and the democrat house of rep) behavior while the current liberal behavior is driven, at least in large part, by union money fed to an ignorant youth hungry for power (like we all were stupid at 20 something). What we should do is find commonality - there is much that can be easily fixed - and learn to share a national cause instead of private agendas. The America of 2011 is, in my opinion, in a decline that I offered to die to prevent as a US MARINE (1976-1983).We are losing the battle for global respect and admiration and becoming a laughing stock debtor nation. Too bad, but as the eagles sang in the Last Resort...call some place Paradise...kiss it goodbye

MadisonMan: If you haven't been up to the Capitol building in a few days, you should go and see how the walls are nearly covered with signs and papers. Some blue painters' tape is being used but, by far, most of the tape is not cleanup friendly. The cleanup should be an excellent opportunity for the demonstrators to demonstrate their respect and, as you say, pride in our beautiful shared public landmark and center of democratic republican self-government.

What's absurd is that, while they clearly know they're in the wrong, they won't just say, "Yeah, thanks, our bad, we didn't realize, etc., we'll take these fliers and notices down right now and set 'em all up again a few steps away." Takeaway: It's not about what's objectively right or wrong. It's not about what's good or bad. It's not about standards of reason or propriety. What's it about? It's about the fight. And it's about never ever admitting wrong or giving ground. No matter how absurdly pathetic and ridiculous you're gonna end up looking on youtube.